(D2, EE) P)ew Pew Pew! (Training Grounds)

[Kakita Yuji]

The day had been....hard to put into words. Still, Yuji still needed to put in some practice time for the day, and so he took his bow and arrows to get some range time. The arrow might know the way, but you needed to know how to ask it for directions.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

A skinny Kuni girl with a lot of swagger in her step appeared at the edge of the training grounds, setting down a small, nondescript pack and beginning to stretch in a very thorough and organized manner. The routine doesn't take much time as she moves rapidly from one step of her process to the next, and soon she is walking toward a rack of bokken with a very intense look in her eye.

[Kakita Yuji]

A skinny Kuni girl with a lot of swagger in her step appeared at the edge of the training grounds, setting down a small, nondescript pack and beginning to stretch in a very thorough and organized manner. The routine doesn't take much time as she moves rapidly from one step of her process to the next, and soon she is walking toward a rack of bokken with a very intense look in her eye.

Yuji was not great at reading people. But after a few lessons, he had learned that that particular look focused on bokken meant someone had some anger that needed some release. He felt sorry for whomever in the dojo was about to earn the Kuni's wroth.

Glancing around, he noticed there was no one else in the dojo at that particular time. Courage forbade retreat, and Courtesy would not allow him to ignore a guest in need. With a small sigh, he went over to the bokken rack as well.

"Good evening, Kuni-san," he said with a bow. "I am Kakita Yuji, at least for a short time longer. I hope everything is well for you this evening."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Kuni takes polite notice of the Kakita for the first time, stopping to bow and introduce herself appropriately.

"This one is Kuni Mitsuko, daughter of Kuni Etsumiko and Kuni Adorai. An honor, Kakita-san." A hint of smile sneaks through her heavy Kuni facepaint. "I am certainly well if I have this time to practice my kenjutsu. I would be happy to cross bokken with you, but..." She looks obviously to the guard on his forearm and his quiver. "I wouldn't want to distract you from your priorities."

[Kakita Yuji]

The Kuni takes polite notice of the Kakita for the first time, stopping to bow and introduce herself appropriately.

"This one is Kuni Mitsuko, daughter of Kuni Etsumiko and Kuni Adorai. An honor, Kakita-san." A hint of smile sneaks through her heavy Kuni facepaint. "I am certainly well if I have this time to practice my kenjutsu. I would be happy to cross bokken with you, but..." She looks obviously to the guard on his forearm and his quiver. "I wouldn't want to distract you from your priorities."

Yuji shook his head, and unfastened the guard.

"It is of no concern, Kuni-san. A host's first responsibility should be to the guest's needs, yes? My clan is hosting you and you are in need of a sparring partner. Surely if our roles were reversed, you would do the same for me."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Yuji shook his head, and unfastened the guard.

"It is of no concern, Kuni-san. A host's first responsibility should be to the guest's needs, yes? My clan is hosting you and you are in need of a sparring partner. Surely if our roles were reversed, you would do the same for me."

The Crab frowns slightly.

"Kakita-san is a most gracious host," she says kindly, if slightly grumpy. "I shall endeavor to make the experience worthy of his time," she says firmly, stepping to the rack and taking two bokken. She resists the urge to weigh their balance before offering the grip on both to Yuji. Especially through the heavy Kuni makeup, Mitsuko looks intensely serious about this activity.

[Kakita Yuji]

The Crab frowns slightly.

"Kakita-san is a most gracious host," she says kindly, if slightly grumpy. "I shall endeavor to make the experience worthy of his time," she says firmly, stepping to the rack and taking two bokken. She resists the urge to weigh their balance before offering the grip on both to Yuji. Especially through the heavy Kuni makeup, Mitsuko looks intensely serious about this activity.

Yuji, on the other hand, seemed completely calm and didn't seem to react to the Crab's grumpiness.

"Of that, I have no doubt, Kuni-san. As they say, when two warriors face one another, that is when they truly know one another." he offered.

He casually took the bokken from the Kuni's left hand and moved into a sparring ring.

His hand dropped down, as if offering the bokken as a gift to the Kuni.

"Shall we begin?"

(OOC: How do you want to run this? Narratively or mechanically? Do you want to skirmish or do you want to duel?)

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Of course," Mitsuko says seriously, intense gaze on the Crane. She settles into a ready position, bokken angling toward Yuji in what seems a neutral position, favoring neither attack nor defense.

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I'm happy with narrative, but we can also roll and skirmish if you wish. There is no reason to believe Mitsuko can best Yuji unless he lets her win.

[Kakita Yuji]

"Of course," Mitsuko says seriously, intense gaze on the Crane. She settles into a ready position, bokken angling toward Yuji in what seems a neutral position, favoring neither attack nor defense.

------------
I'm happy with narrative, but we can also roll and skirmish if you wish. There is no reason to believe Mitsuko can best Yuji unless he lets her win.

(Narrative it is!)

Yuji's own stance was not wholly unfamiliar to the Kuni. Feet well grounded, shoulders squared, Yuji brought his guard up to it's fullest Granted, he wasn't a block of muscle in a steel shell, but is was a respectable decent defense.... for a Crane.

Whether he was trying to impress her or make her feel more at ease was difficult to say, but he seemed ready for her to assalt.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Yuji's own stance was not wholly unfamiliar to the Kuni. Feet well grounded, shoulders squared, Yuji brought his guard up to it's fullest Granted, he wasn't a block of muscle in a steel shell, but is was a respectable decent defense.... for a Crane.

Whether he was trying to impress her or make her feel more at ease was difficult to say, but he seemed ready for her to assault.

The Kuni nods very faintly, then starts to move forward. It's not slow, but definitely steady, as she draws her bokken back and then it drifts to her right. At what seems a step too far away, Mitsuko begins to swing in from Yuji's left, her last step forward putting the strike in range of his shoulder of he doesn't evade. A controlled, strong, but predictable attack from the very earthy young woman.

[Kakita Yuji]

The Kuni nods very faintly, then starts to move forward. It's not slow, but definitely steady, as she draws her bokken back and then it drifts to her right. At what seems a step too far away, Mitsuko begins to swing in from Yuji's left, her last step forward putting the strike in range of his shoulder of he doesn't evade. A controlled, strong, but predictable attack from the very earthy young woman.

A Crab would have endured the blow....but Yuji was not a Crab. Once the distance was much closer, he suddenly brought the bokken up and forward. It wouldn't slash the Kuni....but if she continued her strike unchecked, she was going to get poked. A very very lightweight attack, but the intent was to disrupt and confuse rather than simply strike.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

A Crab would have endured the blow....but Yuji was not a Crab. Once the distance was much closer, he suddenly brought the bokken up and forward. It wouldn't slash the Kuni....but if she continued her strike unchecked, she was going to get poked. A very very lightweight attack, but the intent was to disrupt and confuse rather than simply strike.

A calm look on her face, Mitsuko leans away only slightly, knowing the bokken point is going to strike her upper chest. She brings her own bokken around as intended, swinging just past Yuji's shoulder as her momentum takes her onto the bokken point.

With a grunt and gritted teeth, the Kuni steps back, shaking her head as her teeth stay clenched a while. Finally, she exhales.

"Oof. Well done, Kakita-san. That... Clearly I need more practice before I trust in that maneuver." The Crab's face and voice are stern, appearing to control some great frustration.

[Kakita Yuji]

A calm look on her face, Mitsuko leans away only slightly, knowing the bokken point is going to strike her upper chest. She brings her own bokken around as intended, swinging just past Yuji's shoulder as her momentum takes her onto the bokken point.

With a grunt and gritted teeth, the Kuni steps back, shaking her head as her teeth stay clenched a while. Finally, she exhales.

"Oof. Well done, Kakita-san. That... Clearly I need more practice before I trust in that maneuver." The Crab's face and voice are stern, appearing to control some great frustration.

Yuji lowered his weapon and bows at the Kuni's words.

"Well, even Lord Toshimoko himself has to practice, Kuni-san. It's not something you really stop doing until you decide to set your swords aside and shave your head. But that was only a harrassing strike, not a mortal one. Given your solid grounding and your energy, I doubt very much such a blow would deter you for long." he admits.

He tilts his head a bit.

"Might I ask who your sensei is? I'm curious as to whose skills you are honoring for the tournament." he asked.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Hai. Well said, Kakita-san," the Crab replies, bucking up slightly as the conversation moves along. Honor before self.

"Kenjutsu and other melee weapons with Hida Michoko-sensei and Hida Gohei-sensei. It is..." Mitsuko looks extremely self conscious, even through heavy makeup. "Perhaps I should say it is my own style, lest the lack of mastery reflect poorly on their skills as combatants and teachers." She takes an intense interest in the ground as she processes the right level of embarrassment to feel at this moment.

[Kakita Yuji]

"Hai. Well said, Kakita-san," the Crab replies, bucking up slightly as the conversation moves along. Honor before self.

"Kenjutsu and other melee weapons with Hida Michoko-sensei and Hida Gohei-sensei. It is..." Mitsuko looks extremely self conscious, even through heavy makeup. "Perhaps I should say it is my own style, lest the lack of mastery reflect poorly on their skills as combatants and teachers." She takes an intense interest in the ground as she processes the right level of embarrassment to feel at this moment.

Yuji tilted his head at that.

"Hmm, probably not, unless this was but a brief respite before Kuni-san set their name aside to wander the waves." he comments. "I think perhaps Kuni-san is holding themselves to too high a standard, comparing her skills to battle tested veterans of the Crab. As long as Kuni-san keeps applying herself fully, I have no doubt that her name will one day be held up along side other heroes of the Crab, perhaps even the Empire itself."

He smiled a bit.

"After all, you were chosen for the Topaz tournament. You are marked by great potential."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The complimentary Crane is very unsettling to Mitsuko, so besides nodding respectfully, she does the only thing she can: avoid.

"Of course," she says without any hint of actual agreement. "Um, so, again?" Without waiting for the answer she turns and walks back to her starting position in the circle. Facing away from Yuji, she takes a deep breath before feeling prepared to try again.

When she turns back, her face looks determined again, and she's returned to the neutral stance she used before.

[Kakita Yuji]

The complimentary Crane is very unsettling to Mitsuko, so besides nodding respectfully, she does the only thing she can: avoid.

"Of course," she says without any hint of actual agreement. "Um, so, again?" Without waiting for the answer she turns and walks back to her starting position in the circle. Facing away from Yuji, she takes a deep breath before feeling prepared to try again.

When she turns back, her face looks determined again, and she's returned to the neutral stance she used before.

Yuji nod, and returns to the starting position, his hand held over the bokken as if offering a gift.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Kuni simply nods, then brings her bokken high over one shoulder. She begins a very slow, methodical attack approach, every step clearly very grounded.

When she's close to the Crane, Mitsuko's strategy becomes clear: She brings her bokken into a wide sweep at mid-torso height, testing for Yuji's strategy.

[Kakita Yuji]

The Kuni simply nods, then brings her bokken high over one shoulder. She begins a very slow, methodical attack approach, every step clearly very grounded.

When she's close to the Crane, Mitsuko's strategy becomes clear: She brings her bokken into a wide sweep at mid-torso height, testing for Yuji's strategy.

This time, Yuji brought his bokken up in a hard block, pushing against the Kuni's weapon firmly. Crane of yesteryear may have been built mainly of paper and air, but Yuji is capable of mounting a stalwart defense worthy of the Crab. Would the Crab fall back, engage him in a contest of stamina and will, or try something tricky like a duck and counter?